Aberdeen City Council has been forced to take legal action to begin work after a blaze ripped through several residents’ homes.
After a fire destroyed a block of flats on Victoria Road, Torry, in April 2018, numerous residents were displaced from their properties.
The council said the delay in carrying out remedial work was due to them being unable to contact the owners of the private properties.
It has now initiated proceedings to gain access, which is expected to be completed by the middle of this month.
The local authority is confident of appointing a contractor to carry out works in the next three months.
A council spokesman said: “We have attempted to contact all owners to gain agreement for the council to act as agent for these works, but to date only one party has entered into discussions with us.
“As a result of this, we have initiated legal proceedings as set out in the Tenement Scotland Act to facilitate the planned works.
“It is anticipated that this process will conclude in mid-August.
“This should allow us to undertake the procurement of a contractor with work estimated to start in early October with an expected completion date of late November.
“On completion of the external works, we will carry out internal re-instatement works and energy efficiency improvements to our flats in the block.
“Private owners will be given the opportunity to participate in this programme if they wish to do so.”
Torry councillor Alan Donnelly said: “Victoria Road is a very prestigious part of Torry and it is important to make sure these flats are restored.
“The important thing is to reinstate the homes and get them back into economic use.
“We have thousands of people on the waiting list for housing and I feel this shows the council is doing its best to sort things out.”